Fri Feb 28 12:45:33 UTC 2025: ## India’s Dubai Dominance in Champions Trophy Sparks Debate, But is it Unfair?
**Dubai, UAE** – Team India’s success in the ongoing Champions Trophy, playing all matches in Dubai, has ignited a debate about “unfair venue advantage.” Critics claim India’s consistent performance is due to playing exclusively in one location, allowing for acclimatization and strategic squad selection. However, a former sports journalist argues this narrative overlooks crucial geopolitical realities.
The author contends that India’s participation is crucial for the tournament’s commercial viability, citing significantly higher viewership figures when India is involved. The current situation, where India plays solely in Dubai, isn’t a result of intentional manipulation, but rather a consequence of India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan, the tournament’s original host.
This refusal, stemming from long-standing political tensions, forced a hastily arranged hybrid model. The author points out the lack of foresight by the ICC and PCB in not preemptively planning for this scenario, potentially involving multiple UAE venues for India’s matches. The absence of a hybrid model prior to the tournament left the ICC with limited options, ultimately leading to the current situation.
While acknowledging the potential disadvantage to other teams forced to travel between venues, the author emphasizes that blaming Team India is misplaced. The BCCI, the author states, simply reflects the Indian government’s stance on travel to Pakistan. The author calls for a mandatory hybrid model whenever Pakistan hosts future ICC events, anticipating similar scenarios.
Furthermore, the author criticizes certain former cricketers for fueling the controversy, suggesting their comments are ill-timed and potentially damaging to the tournament’s image. They argue that such criticism distracts from the players’ efforts and wrongly implies a deliberate plot to favor India. The article concludes with a plea for a more nuanced understanding of the geopolitical context surrounding the issue and a call for greater foresight from the ICC in future tournament planning.
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